Member Reviews
Lovely book to read. It was well written. Nice and easy to read. Perfect summer read. The book was very realistic and had down to earth characters. Looking forward to see if there will be more to this series |
Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read. |
Lis B, Reviewer
This was a brilliant heartwarming story which I very much enjoyed reading. Characters were engaging, storyline was well thought out and the setting was lovely. Fully worth a read which leaves a smile on your face. |
Oh I am so happy I gave katie Ginger a chance! I absolutely LOVED her book "Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay"!!! And I am so happy to know that it's the first book of a serie!!!! This book was exactly the type of chicklit that I love reading! Everything in this book was cosy... the writing style, the settings, the characters, the story... everything! This book is all about second chances, about forgiveness and kindness, about village gossips and about love! I cannot wait to read the second book!! I hope it will be out soon! I give this book a 4 stars out of 5! Very good book! |
Always a fan of the ‘overcoming an awful time, setting up in a brand-new place where we don’t know anyone’ storyline, especially if at a seaside place. It’s perfect for the current climate where we don’t want anything too disturbing, difficult or upsetting. A lovely form of escapism in a book. Katie Ginger, as always, gives us a lovely bunch of characters that you take to your heart. Now this story isn’t all hearts and flowers, it does contain some sadness, some moments of despair and one scene of utter grossness – but you will have a huge smile on your face by the end. I really like Stella. She knew what she wanted, she is determined, and hard working and I liked how she really got stuck in. Of course, the lovely Lexi and she were destined to be best friends, it is a wonderful friendship that is realistic and much needed for both characters. Characters to love and characters you will hate – brilliant! I liked how relationships have been set up and that we will be back visiting our new friends soon. I look forward to a return visit. It’s cosy and charming, I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy to read and review. |
A lovely uplifting story. Stella is just getting over a divorce and buys a gift shop in Swallowtail Bay. She doesn't exactly have a good first meeting with Miles who is a grumpy neighbour. Swallowtail Bay sounds like the perfect place with wonderful caring people. This is a story you can escape to. |
Stella had just moved to Swallowtail Bay with her little dog Frank. She’d recently split up with her husband Isaac and was ready for a new start. Stella has bought a quaint little shop full of tat and treasures with her flat above it and two apartments next door to let. She was planning on keeping very busy. Lexi lived in Swallowtail Bay too with her two small children. Ralph 6 and Taylor 8. She worked in the local cafe for Raina who had owned it for almost 40years. We follow the lives of Stella and Lexi and watch their friendship blossom. A beautiful book and a thoroughly enjoyable read. |
Rona N, Reviewer
Spring tides at Swallowtail Bay by Katie Ginger This is the first book in a new series and is about Stella who is a recent divorcee who has packed up her life in Oxford to open a shop in the small town of swallowtail bay . On her arrival Stella has a run in with Miles the other prospective buyer for the shop who on appearance is pompous rude and just a little bitter that she won the shop. A lovely story following Stella’s journey and friends she makes. Very enjoyable although the odd bit predictable and mostly very surprising. Overall thoroughly enjoyable. Loved the stories and secrets of the people some expected and others completely unexpected ! Can’t wait for the next instalment in the series . Well done Katie Ginger. Lovely lovely story. |
helen m, Reviewer
What a wonderful escape to Swallowtail Bay, made me want to visit this enchanting little place. Thoroughly enjoyed becoming acquainted with all the fantastic characters & look forward to the next book in the series |
Barbara B, Reviewer
What a great read loved everything about this story A great mix of fabulous characters and a wonderful location When Stella takes a chance and buys a shop with holiday let's included little does she know how much her life will change as friendships soon develop and she immediately seems to fit in this charming little place she finally finds everything she was looking for |
A wonderful book about fresh starts, close friendships and romance. Stella buys a gift shop with 2 holiday lets in the lovely sounding Swallowtail Bay. She meets resistance and has a few issues to sort before her dream becomes a reality. Lexi becomes a great friend who helps her out, whilst dealing with her own problems A lovely feel good story. |
A fantastic chick-lit page turner and it is a perfect summer beach read. A sweet heartwarming story. |
The tag line for this books is ‘The perfect laugh-out-loud romantic comedy for summer!’, personally I think that’s wrong – this is the perfect laugh out loud romantic comedy for all seasons! This is another fantastic 5* read from this highly talented author. Stella has bought a gift shop and two holiday lets in the seaside resort of Swallowtail Bay after her marriage broke down and she wanted a fresh start following her divorce. Most people are so welcoming she thinks she’s made the right decision but following his first encounter with her King Charles Spaniel, Frank, her grumpy neighbour is definitely the exception – and his fiancée is even worse! What a brilliant community to escape into, with great characters, laugh out loud encounters and surprises galore. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to read more about them all in future stories based here. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending this story to anyone looking for a very positive, light hearted read – it’s absolutely superb! I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and can’t praise it highly enough! |
I thought this book was so heartwarming and happy! It really felt like spring full of new beginnings, friendships, and budding romance. This is a book series you can fall in love with quickly because of such great characters and I’m so excited to read the next installment in a few months. My six word review: Bright, fresh, “new beginnings” spring read |
I adore Katie Ginger books. They always put a smile on my face. This is another with fab characters, great plot and great location. |
Stella is putting it all on the line by giving up her old life and starting a new one. Buying a gift shop near the seaside sounds like such a magical thing to do. Images of her and Frank walking along the sandy beach, listening to the waves roll in, whilst lazy Frank sniffs everything to his hearts desire. It sounds like a wonderful place to start a new life. She might not be expecting the chaos that comes with having holiday lets or the kind of opposition that comes from snapping up a popular property, but perhaps the friendships she makes on her new journey will be worth all the bother and stress. The author mixes it up a little when it comes to the two men vying for the position of possible Prince Charming. Jay is a handsome heartthrob with a lack of morals, and an unusual relationship with the truth. Miles is affluent, straight-laced and a little bit on the awkward side - also on the handsome side though. Neither of them ring the bell when it comes to perfect love interest. In a way that is a better reflection of real life, even if this is fiction. This is a cosy romance, with an emphasis on friendship, support and the small moments of kindness that keep people afloat in the most difficult of times. Ginger gives readers a read that mirrors life, whilst also giving them small moments of fantasy. It's the balance and the imperfection of the characters that absolutely make the read. |
Such a lovely read, could be a little slow paced at times, but still such a nice story. I love a book about fresh starts, new beginnings and the perfect read for unsettling times. A book about friendship, people who keep you together when times are tough, this is definitely the perfect current read. Slow burn but sweet and guaranteed to make you feel better. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion |
Zee M, Reviewer
Cute and soft - I found the pace too slow at times for me, but this is actually the kind of gentle love and sweet friendship books you can hunker down with during a cold afternoon or a dismal evening with a cup of hot cocoa in hand |
The perfect book for this weird and troubling days. It's heartwarming, sweet and it talks about love, friendship and starting again. Stella is a great character, you cannot help rooting for them, as you cannot help liking the other fleshed out characters. The setting is lovely and vivid, the plot flows and it keeps you hooked. It was a heartwarming, engrossing and entertaining read. Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine. |
Current status: I’m not crying, you’re crying *sniffs*. (Please note these are the happy-sappy kind.) In my humble opinion, there’s just something about a Katie Ginger book that warms the heart. And, I don’t know about you, but I needed that this week. Can you imagine the courage it takes to leave behind all you have known and start afresh somewhere new? *whispers* Between thee and me, I have considered this a time or two, but you know, *shrugs* mother plus two cats (RIP Gizmo) means I’m grounded, lol. (I repeat myself; I know. *rolls eyes*) A bit heart-sore following her divorce, Stella’s move to Swallowtail Bay is a chance to finally follow her dreams. Throwing herself fully into her new venture, Stella embraces her new beginning, no matter how scary it may feel. She may be alone at the start (with the exception of Frank, of course), but that’s all about to change... This is a story of love (the slow burn kind) and friendships. The friends we treasure most, those who lift us up not bring us down, hold our hands in times of trouble and become the family we choose for ourselves. And the love we least expect. I have to be honest and say that I wanted to stretch a certain character’s neck like a giraffe. I know, I know *waves hand* – bad Laura. Violence is not the answer, kids 😐. I’ve been a fan of Katie’s since her debut release back in September 2018. With each book her writing just gets better and better. You simply forget you’re reading a story. Along with Stella, Miles, Lexi et al, prepare to laugh, smile and cry in equal measure (not forgetting an irate or cringeworthy moment or two *smirks*). But most of all, be prepared for a feeling of happiness when you finally find where you belong. *blows nose* One final thought... scratch that – make it two. 1. You never know the lives you touch. and 2. Sorry, but I have to disagree. #ColinFirth4Eva *snorts* |




